Fairfax town manager is leaving to take top job in Lomita

Michael Rock, who serves as Fairfax's town manager and public works director, announced Tuesday he will leave his post next month to become manager for the city of Lomita in Southern California.

"It's time to move on to a bigger city with different challenges so I can broaden my career," Rock said.

About 21,000 people live in Lomita, a city that covers about 3 square miles sandwiched between Redondo Beach, Torrance and Long Beach. Lomita has about 50 public employees and a combined operating and capital budget of approximately $20 million, Rock said.

By comparison, Fairfax has a population of 7,500, 27 public employees and a combined operating and capital budget of about $9 million.

Rock, 47, will receive an annual salary of $160,000 in Lomita; he receives $125,650 a year in Fairfax. Rock earned a master's degree in public policy and administration at California State University, Sacramento.

Rock was initially hired to serve as Fairfax's public works director in October 2007. He was promoted to town manager in January 2008.

During his stint as town manager, Rock had to contend with a series of resignations. In 2008, the town's finance director and planning director both quit. In 2010, the police chief retired, and in 2011 the new finance director resigned.

Regarding the timing of Rock's resignation, Fairfax Mayor Pam Hartwell-Herrero said, "The last five years have been plagued with turnover; but right now we have a really strong, solid staff so in that sense it's a good time."

Hartwell-Herrero said Fairfax's small size and modest budget has made it hard to hang on to personnel.

"We either get people who are really new or we get people who are moving up the ladder, and they don't want to spend a ton of time in a town this size," she said.

Rock's last day as Fairfax town manager will be June 22; the Town Council is scheduled to review the town's proposed budget for the next fiscal year on June 20.

Hartwell-Herrero said she expects the council will look for a candidate who will be able to assume Rock's dual responsibilities as town manager and public works director. The town will have nine capital projects underway this summer which are the culmination of years of planning. They include new sidewalks, a new walkway, a bike lane and a road striping project. But Hartwell-Herrero said that when these projects are completed the workload of the town's public works director will be relatively modest.

"Fairfax is a kind of unconventional community," Hartwell-Herrero said, "so our goal in recruiting is to find somebody who gets Fairfax and is able to do a really professional job for our community."

Rock, who lives in Woodacre, said, "I do regret having to leave the area in terms of quality of lifestyle. It is a great place to live, and it's a nice place to work."

Rock said politics in Lomita appear to be more "middle-of-the-road" than that of Fairfax, well-known for its liberal outlook.